Gallop

Origin

From Middle English galopen ("to gallop"), from Old French galoper ("") (compare modern French galoper), from Frankish *wala hlaupan ("to run well") from *wala ("well") + *hlaupan ("to run"), from Proto-Germanic *hlaupanÄ… ("to run, leap, spring"), from Proto-Indo-European *klaup-, *klaub- ("to spring, stumble"). Possibly also derived from a deverbal of Frankish *walhlaup ("battle run") from *wal ("battlefield") from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "dead, victim, slain" from Proto-Indo-European *wel- ("death in battle, killed in battle") + *hlaup ("course, track") from *hlaupan ("to run"). More at well, leap, valkyrie. See also the doublet wallop, coming from the same source through an Old Northern French variant.

Full definition of gallop

Noun

1. The fastest gait of a horse.
2. A two-beat stride during which all four legs are off the ground simultaneously

Verb

1. To ride at a galloping pace.
• John DonneGallop lively down the western hill.
2. To cause to gallop.to gallop a horse
3. To make electrical or other utility lines sway and/or move up and down violently, usually due to a combination of high winds and ice accrual on the lines.
4. To run very fast.
• 2012, September 15, Amy Lawrence, Arsenal's Gervinho enjoys the joy of six against lowly Southampton, In the 11th minute the German won possession in midfield and teed up the galloping Kieran Gibbs, whose angled shot was pushed by Kelvin Davies straight into the retreating Jos Hooiveld.
5. (figurative) To go rapidly or carelessly, as in making a hasty examination.
• John LockeSuch superficial ideas he may collect in galloping over it.